Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

March 18, 2019

MHA Newsline: March 18, 2019

In this issue 

HealthEast, part of Fairview Health Services, matches clinical care with cultural values

When the Karen people were forced to flee their homes in Burma, a large population began to resettle in Minnesota. Like the experience of so many refugees, a difficult transition was ahead. While adjusting to a new culture and managing the emotional and physical trauma of war, many new Americans are at a higher risk for mental health and chemical dependency issues.   

Providers at HealthEast, part of Fairview Health Services, serve the largest Karen population in the Twin Cities. They recognized that American treatment programs were being lost in translation and decided to do something about it.   

“Karen patients came to me looking for help to find a treatment program,” said Dr. Shana Sniffen, HealthEast Clinics – Roselawn. “Yet, the substance use treatment system wasn’t working for them, so we had to fix the system.”   

So, in 2013, Dr. Sniffen and Karen community leaders founded the Karen Chemical Dependency Collaboration (KCDC). The community-driven collaboration includes Karen community members, interpreters, faith leaders, law enforcement and corrections officers, and health care professionals.   

The goal of KCDC is to address issues related to mental health and substance use in culturally appropriate ways. The collaboration seeks to provide resources to the community and empower members to respond to these issues while adapting to U.S. systems, as well as helping U.S. systems adapt to working better with various cultural communities.   

Visit the MHA website to learn more and read the full Community Benefit Reportreturn to top   

First committee deadline passes; MHA comments on ONECare proposal

First committee deadline passes
March 15 marked the end of marathon committee hearings in advance of a midnight deadline for House and Senate policy committees to take action on bills in their jurisdiction. If no action was taken on a bill, it is unlikely it will move forward this session. The second committee deadline is March 29. Over the next two weeks, committees must act favorably on bills or companions of bills that met the first deadline in the other body.   

MHA submits comments on ONECare proposal
MHA is closely following proposed changes to Minnesota’s individual insurance market. HF 3, authored by authored by Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester), is Gov. Walz’s ONECare proposal that would phase in measures aimed at stabilizing the individual insurance market over the next four years, including a premium subsidy, a state-based tax credit available to those whose income is less than or equal to 400 percent of the federal poverty guidelines and a public buy-in option. These expenditures are in lieu of continuing the reinsurance program. MHA submitted a comment letter posing questions about how the proposal would be implemented and highlighting the importance of taking time to analyze and evaluate the impact this proposal would have on health care in Minnesota.   

With questions, contact Mary Krinkie, vice president of government relations, MHA, 651-659-1465, or Kristen McHenry, director of state government relations, MHA, 651-603-3526.   

Session bill tracker
For a complete list of 2019 legislative bills MHA is tracking, visit the MHA Member Center. For assistance accessing the Member Center, contact Ashley Beno, member services and communications specialist, MHA, 651-603-3545. return to top   

Legislation extending federal support for CCBHCs announced

U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and U.S. Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) announced they will reintroduce the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act. The legislation would provide the eight states participating in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) demonstration, including Minnesota, an additional two years of funding. It would also expand the number of states eligible to participate in the demonstration from eight to 19.   

Federal funding for Minnesota’s CCBHCs, which are required to provide a comprehensive set of mental health and substance use disorder services, is set to expire on June 30. Securing sustainable funding for the CCBHCs is a priority of MHA. MHA will urge Minnesota’s delegation to support this legislation. return to top   

MHA annual CEO, CFO and CNE salary surveys due March 22

The deadline to submit this year’s chief executive officer, chief financial officer and chief nurse executive online compensation surveys is March 22.   

The survey results will highlight salary averages by budget size, years in health care, geographical region and years in current positions. The broader the survey participation, the more representative the results. Participants will receive summary reports.   

Members eligible to participate in the confidential surveys were emailed access information on Feb. 21. With questions regarding the surveys, contact Nick Johnston, financial analyst, MHA, 651-603-3536, or Jennifer Sanislo, division assistant, MHA, 651-659-1440. return to top